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Present ENS Newsletter:
Hello everyone! It’s getting to be a busy time in the semester, but I wanted to get a newsletter out with some upcoming events and important information about preregistration for Spring courses! First, some news…
Upcoming Seminars
There are a few more seminars left this semester. Please mark your calendar.
11/7: “Glass Manufacturing and Emissions”, Linda Jones, AU College of Engineering and Material Science
11/14: “A Trip to the Galapagos”, Peter Finlay, retired professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, AU
11/21: “Wildlife Conservation in Namibia”, Rosanna Cappellato, Visiting Professor of Environmental Studies, AU
12/5: “The Science Behind Superfund at the Elizabeth Mine, South Strafford, Vermont”, Peter Ryan, Middlebury College
ENS Holiday Party: Dec. 12, 12:20, room 326
Special Lecture: 11/11/03!
Doug Clarke, the technical specialist and program assistant for the ENS Division, recently attending a national conference on Campus Sustainability. He came back from this conference with lots of ideas and enthusiasm about what we can do at AU. Doug is going to give a special presentation about what he learned at the conference and ideas for what we can do at AU on Nov. 11 12:20-1:10. Please come and hear what Doug has to say. Refreshments will be served.
ENS on display!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently asked me for some photos of our students working with equipment that we have purchased using funds from NSF grants that I have gotten. I sent a few down, and they have chosen to display a photo of some ENS students in their office space! So, some of your faces are on display in Washington!
Faculty search update
We have begun our search for a permanent replacement for Dr. Sinton, who resigned last year and is now working in Vermont. I would like to have a student representative on the search committee. That student will be a full voting member of the committee and will be charged with representing the ENS students’ opinions on who we should hire to fill that position. I want the ENS students to decide themselves who that representative will be. Input from ALL ENS students, of course, will be solicited as we bring people from our “short list” to campus. You will all have opportunities to meet the candidates, hear them give talks and/or teach classes, and meet with them informally, but we also need one representative to attend search committee meetings, review applications, etc. You need to have this person chosen by the first week in November, so please start talking about it now. Stay tuned for more information about this – I’ll be asking one of you to call a meeting of ENS majors to talk about the process and elect your representative.
Greenhouse at ENS house
You may have noticed a new greenhouse that Chris Sanford (ENS senior) has built next to the ENS house at 16 Park St. (If you haven’t, go check it out!). Chris is there on Tuesdays 10-22, Thursdays 3-4, and Sundays 3-4 to answer questions about her project. She reports to me that she has been busily harvesting salad greens and is growing other delectables, even now in the cold weather, and that she was paid a visit by Alfred’s Montessori school the other day!
Internship Possibility!
The following was sent to us recently:
Job Type: International Development Intern
Start date : ASAP, could be done in the spring
Job Description: Work with the Center for International Development (SUNY/Central in Albany) alongside a team of professionals carrying out work in developing countries on four continents in the fields of democracy and governance, business development, international education and the environment.
For more information, contact Peg Clement at clemenpe@spo.rf.suny.edu Note: an AU ENS alumna works there now!
Outdoor Education Center
As you may know, some of us at AU have been involved in helping the Genesee Valley Central School as it has been developing its Outdoor Education Center. Frances Knickmeyer worked on this project last summer and is still involved, Diane Cox from the School of Art and Design has been helping out, and I have been over there a couple of times, too. It’s a great facility and they would like more involvement from our students, doing a variety of things, including design of learning stations, taking GPS coordinates of features, making maps, etc. If you are interested, please see me. We may even be able to design an independent study project involved with the Center. It’s only 15 miles away!
Creek Clean-up
The Canacadea Creek Clean-up on Oct. 11 was a great success! A large load of debris was taken out of the creek and taken to the transfer station (thanks to Doug Clarke for hauling it!). Thanks to everyone who participated, especially the Forest People who co-sponsored it and to Julia Benditt who organized the activity.
Compost Collection
We continue to collect compostable materials from the dining facilities on campus and transport them to the compost site on the Alfred State College farm. Thanks to everyone involved in this project, we collected almost 6.5 tons of debris last semester alone. Sarah Judd, who has been involved in the project since its start, will be graduating in December, so if anyone would like to join the compost crew next semester, let me know. You can also speak with Sarah or Erin Letovsky about what is involved in the pick-ups. They have been doing a great job keeping the project going this semester.
Changes to the I.C.
Don't you just love to run the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer?
Some will be pleased to learn that the Ion Chromatograph has been upgraded
to include both anion and cation detection. A second eluent system, plumbing
from the autosampler to the column and detector, and a switching valve
enable samples to be tested for both ion types in a single sequence. The
instrument can still be set up to run only anion or cation detection,
as well. Some equipment and material purchase and some de-bugging is still
in process, but it should soon be ready for routine analyses. We plan
to dedicate the atomic absorption spectrophotometer to use for heavy and
trace metals in the future.
Preregistration!
It’s that time of the semester again… We will be having our customary group preregistration again on Monday evening, November 10 at 7 PM in room 326 Science Center. All ENS majors are strongly encouraged to attend. At this meeting, I will talk to the group about what you should think about taking next semester and then speak with you individually about scheduling. This is a good opportunity for you not only to talk to me, but also to talk to your fellow students to find out the “inside scoop” about classes that they might have taken. In the meantime, here are some thoughts and suggestions for next semester for first, second, third and fourth year students, and then a few words about some new courses or other courses that we want to draw your attention to:
If you are currently a freshman: You should take ENS 102, the “sequel” to ENS 101. ENS 102 provides an introduction to the social science aspects of environmental studies. It is a great course and it is required for all ENS majors.
If you are currently a sophomore: If you haven’t taken ENS 102 yet, you should take that. Also, if you are currently in ENS 240, you should sign up for the second part of that course, ENS 241: Environmental Research Methods II. If you haven’t had ENS 205: Environmental Data Analysis, you should take that as well – it’s required of all ENS majors.
If you are currently a junior: You must sign up for ENS 440: Research Planning. During this course, you will choose your senior research topic and write your research proposal. If you are currently in ENS 240, you should take ENS 241. Also, if you haven’t had ENS 102 or ENS 205 yet, you need to take those as well (see previous paragraphs).
If you are currently a senior: It’s down to the wire now! You need to sign up for ENS 470: Senior Project, with your individual project advisor. You also need to make sure that you have satisfied all of your other major and general education requirements, because this is your last chance!
Other courses of note:
MLS 211: Global Perspectives: Sustainable Futures and Service Learning
in Costa Rica:
Yes, it says Costa Rica!! Drs. Huberman and Kautzman are teaching this
very exciting (and relevant) course during D block next semester. During
the spring, students will meet one night a week to learn about Central
American natural and cultural history and the concept of sustainable development.
Then, you will spend 2 weeks in Costa Rica at the Monteverde Institute,
an environmental facility in Costa Rica, learning more about the culture
and environment, and doing projects in the region. You do not have to
be able to speak Spanish to take this course and we would really like
to see ENS majors in the class. It is an incredible opportunity for you
and I would encourage you to consider it. The course will be 3 credit
hours and there will be some additional cost to the student for the trip,
but it is an great opportunity. We can also arrange for you to receive
credit for your ENS major for this course – it just needs to be
arranged with me (Michele). If you have questions, see me or Dr. Huberman
or Dr. Kautzman in the Modern Languages Division.
ENS 250: Spirituality and the Environment: This course was such a success last year that we have permanently added it to our schedule. It has been changed, though, from 2 to 3 credits. The course will satisfy one of your social science electives or breadth requirements and students last year enjoyed the course immensely. The course surveys past and present beliefs of major religions and spiritual movements with respect to the way those beliefs have shaped adherents’ attitudes toward the environment. Readings include ancient creation myths, medieval mystical writings on nature, and current interpretations and re-interpretations of religious beliefs about nature. The course focuses as well on the contemporary debate about religion and its place in the environmental movement.
ENS 120: Hazardous Materials:
We teach this course every other year in our division. It is a health
and safety course that gives you information you need if you will ever
be working with hazardous materials. You will learn the regulations, how
to use the “moon suits” and respirators, and basic health
and safety information.
Most of our students take this course at some point in time because, after successful completion of the course, you will get an OSHA certification (called “HAZWOPER”) which is required of many jobs in the environmental field. One of our current majors told me that he got a higher salary last summer working for an environmental company simply because he had this certification. We have also been told by alumni that having the certification and training in health and safety has helped them to attain permanent positions once they leave Alfred.
ENS 300: Introduction to GIS: This course will be taught next semester one evening per week. It is almost identical to the ENS 220: Intro to GIS course in the catalog, but, because it will be taught for 3 hours instead of 4 hours, we had to give it another number this year. Seniors who haven’t had GIS should take this if they want some exposure to GIS before they graduate. Underclassmen may also take the course, but bear in mind that we will also, almost certainly, be offering Intro to GIS again next year.
News from Alumni
I have heard recently from alumni that some of you may remember and their messages are below. Even if you didn’t know these former students, though, their messages give you an idea of the variety of things our ENS majors go on to do after Alfred!
From Anna Fuller, class of 2003: “I’ve moved to Maui and I am working for Parsons as an environmental specialist on Kaho’olawe. My new e-mail address is fullerav@yahoo.com…I miss the fall already!”
From Susie Giffin, class of 2002: “I decided to go to school here
in Germany and this coming fall will start working towards my German “Diplom”
at the RWTH Aachen. I’ve also found a great, challenging, work-study
job translating an entire book..on the
material science of steel….After the Fulbright [Susie received a
Fulbright Fellowship to study in Germany last year], I
took a month off and hiked the Camino de Stantigo alone in northern Spain.
I hiked a total of 680 km. It was a fun and interesting experience…hiking,
meeting people from all over, getting to know the Spanish culture and
history”.
From Christa Nyman, class of 2001: “now that I have finished my Masters degree in Public Policy from Rockfeller College at the University of Albany,…I wanted to make sure that you all had my new e-mail address: cnyman@nycap.rr.com. I am working with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.. in Albany, NY. ACOG is a non-profit group representing ob-gyns in NYS and advocating on behalf of women’s health to the NYS Legislature. I work in the government affairs office doing policy analysis, coalition building, lobbying, etc.”
This newsletter was printed on recycled paper
